“Photography is the greatest hobby in the world.”

For New York City based photographer Jason Roman, Tokyo is a place to see differently. Far from the familiarity of home, the city sharpens his attention. Every street, face and moment carries a sense of discovery. Bold and expressive, Tokyo draws him toward the people and personalities that naturally hold the frame. For Jason, the person makes the photograph. Everything else follows.

Jason moves slowly through the world, watching and waiting, building stories in his mind as he searches for the people who belong in them. He wants to photograph everything. To him, photography is the greatest hobby in the world, and he would rather spend all his time taking pictures. 
His favourite part of shooting street is getting caught taking a photo, when the moment turns into an interaction and the exchange gives the image a deeper sense of importance. Each encounter becomes a kind of casting, searching for emotion that cannot be directed. It has to be something inside the person that already exists. His portraits become self-portraits, shaped by a quiet recognition of something familiar in the people he is drawn to. 

In New York City, Jason works with a 24mm as his everyday perspective, moving through streets he knows by heart and working within the environment rather than observing from a distance. 
Tokyo marks a deliberate shift. Choosing a 50mm alters not only his frame but his mindset. The added distance slows him down and creates space for consideration. As a visitor, he becomes more aware of where he stands and the line between presence and observation.
The city’s bold individuality and quiet confidence invite attention, and as he navigates the streets, he looks for what he calls Main Character Energy, drawn to people who carry their presence without hesitation.

The Leica M EV1 has opened up a new range of possibilities for Jason’s photography, allowing him to experience the M in a new way. Where the traditional rangefinder takes time to master, the Leica M EV1 shows the image as it will be captured, reducing guesswork and allowing him to work more confidently with a wide range of classic and new lenses. As his eyesight has changed, the added clarity has become essential, giving him the confidence to focus accurately.

What remains unchanged is the essence of the M. Its compact form and intentional way of working stay at the core. For Jason, the Leica M EV1 does not replace the rangefinder experience. It expands it, preserving the discipline of the M while opening greater creative freedom and bringing new life to vintage lenses.

The Leica M has long been regarded as the quintessential street-photography camera. More than just a device for capturing images, it is an instrument designed for truly seeing. Its minimalist design, manual controls and compact form factor make shooting intuitive and unobtrusive, allowing photographers to engage naturally with their surroundings. Over decades, M-Cameras have become synonymous with street photography, offering a connection to the moment that few other cameras can match.